Leamington care home residents delighted after surprise visit from penguins

[dutchman]

Residents and guests at a care home in Leamington Spa were delighted with a surprise visit from penguins. Jubilee House, part of Berkley Care Group, treated residents and their families to a Jubilee Christmas surprise featuring the unusual visitors.

The idea for the penguin surprise came from general manager Pippa, who wanted to do something unique for the home’s first Christmas celebration. Having worked with the penguins before, Pippa thought it would be a delightful and unexpected treat for residents.

Residents were surprised and amused by the presence of the penguins - a new experience for them. To ensure a safe and comfortable interaction, the penguin keepers provided clear instructions on handling them.

Residents remained seated while the penguins waddled around, and the birds were fed fish, keeping the visit to a comfortable hour. Phillippa Cook, Jubilee House’s general manager said: “Seeing the joy and surprise on everyones' faces when our flippered friends waddled in was just priceless.

"It’s not every day you get to hang out with penguins, right? We’re all about creating special moments here at Jubilee House, and I think we knocked it out of the park this time.

“Hosting the penguins here was such a unique experience – it brought a whole new level of excitement to our Christmas event and really brightened everyone’s day in the most unexpected way. It’s these little unexpected joys that make life so rich for our residents and we can’t wait to see what we come up with next.”

Staff said a particularly memorable moment was when a three-year-old girl, expecting a routine visit, was greeted by a penguin almost her size. They said that her expression was unforgettable.



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